Leona, a name meaning Lioness, is also equivalent to the Hebrew name “Ariela,” by which the protagonist in this 94-minute, Spanish-language, English-subtitled film is known. She is 25 years old living in what might be considered the cocoon of the insular Jewish community of Mexico City. The movie begins with Ariela’s cousin dipping three times in the mikvah, under the watchful eyes of her female relatives, to purify herself spiritually before her forthcoming marriage. The symbolism of the mikvah will be utilized later in the film, which is principally focused on Ariela’s struggle to maintain her love for a Gentile man in the face of universal disapproval from her family and the rest of the tight-knit Jewish community.
Ariela (Naian Gonzalez Norvind) is a muralist, whose bold expressive works cover the sides of multi-story buildings. She met Ivan (Christian Vasquez) one day when he watched her working, and questioned her about her artistic background and techniques. Without telling her family, she dated the young man, meeting his well-educated family soon after their relationship began. His father is a theater director, his mother a professor of literature. She does not, cannot, reciprocate by introducing him to her family.
Living at home with her divorced mother (Carolina Politi) , Ariela is unable to keep her secret hidden for long. Once her mother finds out, she enlists various members of the community to dissuade Ariela from continuing the relationship, but they are talking to her head, while Ivan has reached her heart. When Ariela continues to date Ivan, her exasperated mother orders her to leave her house. Ariela goes from relative to relative trying unsuccessfully to find another place to live, but no one – not her father, not her grandmother—will take her in. Eventually through the help of one of Isaac’s friends, she is able to rent her own apartment.
We watch in fascination as members of the Gentile community and the Jewish community reluctantly learn about each other. If they marry, asks one of Ivan’s friends, will he have to be circumcised? And why does he want to be with her; why not a “normal” girl? In another scene, Ariela’s father (Elias Fasja) breathes a sigh of relief when she tells him Ivan’s first name. “At least it’s not ‘Jesus,’” he says.
After Ivan and Ariela experience a rough patch in their relationship, she accepts a date with Gabriel (Daniel Adissi), a young Jewish merchant. As one might imagine, Ariela’s family fawns over him. But you’ll have to watch this R-rated movie to see how Ariela really feels. Leona will be shown during the Hola Mexico film festival in Los Angeles at 7:30 p.m., June 3, and 9:30 p.m. June 4, at the Regal Cinemeas, 1000 W. Olympic Boulevard.
Republished from San Diego Jewish World